Fluorescent lighting fixture



Sept. 16, 1941.

F. J. ROESLER 2,256,058

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING F IXTURE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1941 Sept. 16; 1941. F. J. ROESLER v FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 17, 1941 28heets-Sheet 2 a0 Laden/Z617 4 e a 0 4 2 vflfifliz Hi y E: 1 6 a. 0 m \4 W 1 M W L J 2 Z m 5 a 7 7 I 1/ ,1 I 7 J 0 6 1 o 1. H2 2 2 5 a 1 1 a v. u as a 5 2 Since the introduction of I tion will become more apparent ing description taken companyinz drawings in which:

Patented Sept. 16, 1941' FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE tro Manufacturing Co.,

ship composed of John R. Allen, off, and Danielle Nemerofi Frank J. Roesler, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Elec- Chicago, Ill., a partner- Victor Nemer- Application April'lfl, 1941, Serial No. 388,923

Claims. (Cl. 240-'81) This invention relates to fluorescent lighting fixtures and more particularly to a fluorescent fixture of the type adapted tobe used as a table or boudoir lamp.

.fluorescent lighting, fixture manufacturers have been confronted with considerable difficulty in providing proper fixtures for use with fluorescent tubes. The difiiculty has been caused primarily because of the.

peculiar elongated shape of a fluorescent tube.

The tubes now being sold commercially on'the 1 open market come in a variety of lengths, the

shortest tube being sixteen inches. and each end of the tube must be provided-with means for making contact with a source of electrical en-. ergy. Up to the present time fluorescent fixtures have assumed a shape corresponding to the elongated tube such, for example, as the various types of ceiling fixtures and desk lamps. production of a fixture adapted .to be used with fiuorescent'tubes of the type known in the trade as a table or boudoir lamp have presented many difflculties not heretofore encountered in the the production of ceiling and desk lamps of the.

type last referred to. a

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture of the table or boudoir type in which the-fluorescent tube is mounted in the base of the fixture vertically and which will provide light in the proper area of the fixture.

Another object of the-present invention is to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture of the table or boudoir type in which the fluorescent tube is mounted in a vertical position in such a fashion that the fluorescent tube may be operatively However, the

connected to or removed from the fixture with a minimum amount of effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture of the table or boudoir type in which the direct rays of light from the fluorescent tube are confined to the area covered by the shade. Another object of the present, invention is to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture of the table or boudoir type in which the bulb forms a part of the base member of the lamp.

Another object of the invention is .toprovide a fluorescent lighting fixture of the table or boudoir type which is easily assembled and economical to manufacture. V

Other objects and advantages of this invenfrom the followwith reference to the acas best .shown in' Fig.

line 4-4 thereof looking 1 showing the manner in which the various parts are assembled in the base member;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fiuorescent lighting fixture shownl in Fig. 1 taken-on in the direction of the arrows; i

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fluorescent lighting fixture shown in Fig. l with the central portion of thetube, a part of the shade and the upper-part-of a cylinder broken away, and

Fig. 6 is a cent lighting fixture shown in Fig. 1 taken on line 6-43 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and more particularly to Figures l and 5, the table or boudoir lamp embodying my invention comprisesa hollow base member II! which is provided with a plurality of legs 25. The base member I0 may be made many predetermined design, shape or contour. As shown in the drawings, the base member In terminates in its upper portion in a husk l2 adapted'to enclose a tube receiving socket M, which is rigidly mounted in an opening H in'the upper portion of the base member I0 and at the botton of the husk l2.

The tube receiving socket I4 is similar in construction to the standardradio tube'receiving socket. The socket I4 is provided with suitable contacts which are connected in turn to the transformer 56 by a pair of wires I and 9. The contacts of the socket 14 are adapted to be broughtinto engagement with the contacts or prongs l9 and H (Figure 5) of the tube cap 23 to make proper contact with the contacts of This hollow shaft extends vertically upwardly from thebase member to substantially the upper level of the fluorescent tube 20. The shaft l6,

threaded end portion 22 which which extends therethrough cross-sectional view of the fluores- I! in order that a-hollow shaft l6 may be mounted inthe base member.

5, is provided with a isadapted to be threaded into a threaded bore 2| in the base l0 into the hollow in portion 32 has. mounted thereto L-shaped member is will pass through holes 48 and engage 88 (Figures 1 and 4), over the free end of shaft I6 member 28, a threaded bore 48 whichis adapted j .to receive a thumb screw 48 I end portion 58. When the 3 and hold the L-shaped 1 moved in any direction I of members 34 and 38 in in which the tubereceiving socket 34 .is adapted to'receive a threaded stud should: beof such length that after being terior. "-n'e lower threaded end of the shaft I8 is, provided with a knurlednut 28 which is threaded onto the threaded end 22 of the shaft I 6 in such fashion as to enable the nut." to be tightened against the base member I8, after the shaft I8 'has been properly threaded into the I bore 24, rigidly to. secure the tube I6 in its vertical position.v

On the upper end of the shaft l8 there is mounted a hollow L-shaped member 28. This L-shaped member, as shown in the drawings, is

a made .in'onepiece, but,-for convenience'in describing the some, it will be described as having ofthe bore for the purpose apparent from the following peripheral edge 48 which will become description.

A'shade 68, which is preferably considerably longer in length than .lt is wide, is provided with a suitable mounting frame at its upper end (Figur which comprises what I prefer to call a two sections, namely, a hollow vertical portion 38 and ahorizontal portion 32. 'Thehorizontal a tube receiving socket 34 similar in all respects to the tube receiving socket I4 heretofore described. This 1 of the present invention so long as the modified member or members are so constructed as to percontact made between the'contacts in socket 34 and the prongs 38 of the tube cap 38.

In order .to insure contacts of members to prevent movement 28 aftermember 34 has been 34 and 38, it "is necessary of the L-shaped member brought into engagement with tube cap 38. .This is accomplished side of the vertical portion which is slidably mounted of the' L-shaped by providing at one having a rounded tightened in the bore 48, the rounded end portion 58 will'bear againstthe vertical shaft I6 member 28 from being and keep the contacts proper engagement;

To each of the contacts in the tube receiving socket. 84, there is connected one of a pair of 1 wires 52 and 54 ..which are adapted to be threaded through the hollortsL shaped' member 28, the

hollow shaft I8, and connected to a transformer 58 mounted intlie hollow base member I8.

, Suflicient slack should be provided in the wires 182 and 54, I 28 is raised so that "when the L-shaped; member -shapedimember to-be to the height of' the On the upper half of the portion 32 of the L-shaped'member 28, and preferably on the side,

in'the tu-be receiving socket proper engagement of the socket 34 is so mountedin the portion 32 of the surface of the member 32 '88, which has an internallythreaded bore (not threaded onto the stud against the portion 32,

9 of effort.

, mit the raising or lowering of the tube receiving socket 84 to makeand/or break the electrical basejmember I8, as

.44 and drawn tightly hence drawingmembers I The hollow base member I8 (Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6) i adapted to house thetra'nsformer, and

washer 82 adapted to receive wire frame members 84 extending inwardlytoward the center from a .hoop 88 mounted in the upper portion of the shade 68. The washer 62'is adapted tofit around the stud 44 and be held rigidly against the upper by an-crnamentalcap shown) adapted to be '32, 62 and 68 together.

switch housing 14. 'I'hemanner in'which these last mentioned parts are assembled in the base should be noted in that-the assembly of the parts; in the hollow base member-permits ready accessie bility to the housed parts in case'repair or replacement is necessary, with thevery minimum- The transformer 56 is substantially rectangular in shap having flat corners 18' and flat sides the transformer 88 is slightly greater'jin length than the top portion thereof and thus overlaps 'the end portions 18 of the transformerto form The base member I 8' is provided with an in: wardly directed flange 88 around the inner peripheral edge thereof which serves a-dual purpose in the assembly of the parts iwithin-the hollow will become apparent from i the description to follow.

screw 48 is properly i to rest on the inner surface of the flange mem- 48 upwardly by, releasing the screw 48, the wires Will permit the L manually raised at least upper end of the hollow tube I8.

. of the sides 1.9 of the a the transformer vdoes The transformer 56 member I8 by,forcing flange '88 and drawing downward to cause the is inserted into-the base the flanges 19 past the the transformer member flanges 18 to be brought her 88. As will be seen, flanges I8 and .88 will from dropping out of the base member when the base member ls' placed in an upright position. To prevent lateral movement of the transthe' cooperation between former the flat end portions 18 are adapted to rest against the interior wall of-the hollow base member. I

Due to the fact that the transformer is generally rectangular, there is a space in'the base opposite each of the. transformer sides 18 which other parts of the assembly (Figures 3 and 5), to be hereinafter described, are mounted. In one of the spaces last referred to there is secured to the interior of the base member I8 a switch housing "transformer 58. Sufllcient clearance should be left between the switch housing and the side 18 for a purpose which will be come apparent from'the following description. I

lofnth'e portion 32 directly opposite to the portion there is provided a threaded bore vertically downward into the member 32 which stud -44. The

tightened in the bore 42 approximately one-half inchof is mounted, 41 extending.

thestud extend upwardly from the 7 against the side of the base through a hexagonal nut The switch housing 14 is held in position 7 member I8 by means of a hollow tube 82 which is adapted to extend through a bore 84 in the base l8 and be threaded 88 positioned inside the 7 base Ill. The hollow tube 82 extends outwardly from the exterior of the base II) a suflicient distance to permit a knurled nut 88 to be threaded I6, flat end portions 1,8. The bottom portion I2'I. of

prevent the transformer not-'flll. In these spaces gaseous onto the hollow tube 82 to rigidly secure the members l0, and 88 together.

Extending inwardly through the hollow nut 85 I and hollow tube 82 to the interior of the, switch energize a starting circuit which gives the tube. a dim glow which may be used as a night light. When the cap 92 is again turned clockwise a quarter turn the entire tube will become illuminated.

The hollow base member I is closed at the bottom by means of a cylindrical disc 94, to one surface of which is mounted a clip 95 which is secured to the disc 94 by means of a rivet 98. The spring clip 96 comprises a pair of oppositely disposed and upwardly directed arms I00 and IM which are adapted to extend slightly inwardly fromthe disc 94,- so that when the clip is forced along the side surfaces 'of thetransformer 58, the'upper ends 51 of the arms I00 and Hll will bear against the transformer with a sufllcient gripping action to prevent the discfrom dropping from the base member when the base member is turned in an upright position. It will be noted that the arm I00 of the clip 96 is adapted to pass upwardly through the space provided between the switch housing HI and side 19, as best shown in Figure 5. When the disc 94 is brought into contact with the bottom of the transformer 58, the peripheral edge engagement with the lower surface of the flange 80 (Figures and 6), to close the hollow base member and prevent dust and dirt from getting into the base and'fouling the mechanism.

A suitable notch H5 is provided at one side of the disc 94. to permit a wire cord I05 connected to the transformer 56 to pass out of the base member to be connected to a suitable wall socket to furnishv electrical energy to the transformer."

Due to the length of lar it is desirable to confine the light from the of the disc will be brought into,

the tube cooperates with the base member H! in such a fashion as to form a part thereof.

It has been found that in certain cases it may be desired to eliminate the member l5 and permit the light from the tube 20 which is outside the area covered by the shade to be unrestricted.

' This is particularly true when the lamp is empioyed as a boudoir lamp. If it is desired to a the tube 20 is to be covered by nonlight diflus-.

member I5.

eliminate the member I5, the husk I2 can either be entirely eliminated or if the husk is tobe retained for the purpose of ornamentation it 1 should be made slightly greater in cross section than the tube 20 to eliminate the area between the tube 20 and the husk ,l2 which otherwise would be taken up by The husk I2 may, when the lower portion of mg material, be extended upwardly to substantially the lower leveloi? the shade, thus eliminating the member l5 entirely.

From the above description it will be noted that I have provided a new and improved fluorescent'lighting fixture of the type known as table or boudoir lamps in which all oi the essential requirements of a table or boudoir lamp have been retained, at the same time providing a fixture which is easily assembled, presents a,

- pleasing appearance and satisfies all light rethe fluorescent tube and the further fact that in a table lamp in particutube 20 to the area covered by a shade, because the light projected from the area of the tube which is not covered by the shade will reflect directly into the eyes of a person using the lamp for reading, I provide a member [5, made of translucent material which is adapted to fit into the husk l2 (Figures 2 and 5). The member I5 is preferably of a length sufficient to extend upwardly from the husk l2 to a point approximately even with the level of the lower portion of the shade 50. It has been found that the appearance of the lamp is considerably enhanced when the member I5 is made of translucent material, however it should be understood that the cylinder may be made of nonlight-translucent material and still be within the contemplation of the present invention.

Around theupper edge of the member I5 I mount an ornamental cap H. The member I5 is secured to the cap I! and the husk H by means shaft and said base thence to a source of elecber ending directly above the upper end fluorescent tube, an upper socket attached to.

1 ering surrounding quirements of a table or boudoir lamp. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a base, a lower socket mounted ,in said base, a fluorescent tube with its lower end mounted in said lower socket and extending vertically from said base, a hollow shaft attached to and extending upwardly from said base, a hollow attachment member attached to the upper end of said hollow shaft and having a portion extending laterally above the upper end of said fluorescent tube, an upper socket attached to the upper end of said attachment member, the upper end of said fluorescent tube attached to said upper socket, a shade attached to said attachment member and extending downwardly around said fluorescent tube to cover substantially the upper half of said fluorescent tube, a translucent covsubstantially the lower half of said fluorescent tube, and electrical conducting means extending from said lower socket through said base and from said upper socket through said attachment member, said hollow trical supply.

2. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a base having an opening and terminating in its upper portion in a husk, a. lower socket positioned in said opening in said base at the bottom of said husk, a fluorescent tube with its lower end mounted in said lowersock'et and extending vertically from said base, a hollow shaft attached to and extending upwardly from said base, an L-shaped member attached at its lower vertical end to the upper end of said hollow shaft, the upper horizontal end of said L-shaped memor said said upper end of said L-shaped member for positioning in alignment with said lower socket, a shade attached to the upper horizontal portion of said ,L-shaped member, said shade extending downwardly around said fluorescenttube to cover substantially the upper half of said fluorescent tube, a c er ng, the lower end a: said covering the lower portion of the 2,25 e,ots erally'inw'ardly therefrom, a of tube receiv I ing sockets, one of'said sockets beingmounted' rounding,substantially the lower half of said said base, andfr'om said' upper socket and through said L- shaped member, said hollowshaft and {said base to'an electrical' source of supply.

"-3. A fluorescent, lighting fixture'com'prising a base, a transformer carried within said base, a' switch mechanism in communication with said I fluorescent tube, and electrical conductingmeans extending from-said lower socket and through in said base at the bottom-0f said huskjand'the' second of" said'socketsbeing"v mounted in the lateral portion of said means, a fluorescent tube secured at each end in said socketsgmean's for securing a shade to said-first means, ahollow means adapted to enclose said first socket and extend.upwardly'therefrom to substantially the transformer positioned,'wi'thin said base and having a-manually'operable member on the ex terior of said base,- electrical conducting means 'leading from said transformer 'to an electrical" source of supply, a lower socket mounted in-said I base,- a fluorescent tube withits lower end mounted in saidlower socket and extending ver-- tical'ly from said base, a .hollow shaft attached tolandjextending upwardly from said base, a

hollow attachment member attached to theupper end of said hollow shaft and having a-portion extending. laterally above the upper end of-said' end of said fluorescent, tube attached to said upper socket, a-shade attached to said attachment member and extending downwardly around said fluorescent tube-'to'cover substantially the.

upper half of said fluorescent tube, a translucent fluorescent tube, an upper socket attached to the Y upper end of said attachment'm'ember, theupper" 'said fluorescent tube attached to said 'upper socket, a shade attached to "said attachment member and extending downwardly around said covering surrounding substantially the lower half ing means extending from said lower socket *throughsaid base tojsaid transformer, and from said upper socket through said attachment memher and said hollow shaftto said transformer.

ofsaid fluorescent tube, and electrical conductlower level of said shade, and means for supplying electrical energy to each of said sockets including a manually operable-switch, said switch being operative in one position to light up each end of the tube and operative at another position to cause the tubeto be illuminated over its entire length. r

5. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising'a support adapted to housea starting mechanism,

a lower socket mounted in said support, a flu-v orescent tube with its lower end mountedin said lower socket and extending vertically-from said support, a hollow shaft attached-'to'and extending upwardly from said support, a hollow attachment member attached to th'eoupper end of said hollow shaft and having aportion extending lat-' erally above the upper endo1-saidfluorescent. tube, an upper socket attached tojthe' upper endofsaid attachment member,-. the "upper end of fluorescent tube to cover a substantial portion of said fluorescent tube, acovering surrounding a 4. A lighting fixture of the table or boudoir type adapted to be used with afluorescent tube,

1 a. base member, said base member terminating in its upper portion in a husk, a shaft securedto said base member and adapted to extend vertically upward therefrom, means mounted on the free end of said shaft and adapted to extend latthrough said attachment memberysaid hollow.

substantial portion'of said fluorescent tube, to conceal substantially all of said fluorescent tube not, concealed by said shade, and electrical conducting means extending from said lower socket through said support and from said upper socket shaft and said suppqrt thence to a source of electrical supply. a

K FRANK JLROESIER. 

